Fukuoka #7.3

So to round off my trip, We were disappointed earlier that in Saga, we couldn’t get beef .. so we decided we should at least have a meal that ends with beef. We were waitlisted for 1 hour ++ because this place was SO FULL!! and I must say, although we were quite hungry and irritated to have to wait so long for the table, the wait was well worth!

Ningyocho Imahan

we all went for the sukiyaki set. I really do admire the Japanese in their patience and pride in making a type of cuisine so refined and everything is broken down into steps that probably have been well thought out and practiced over the years.

Huge chawamushi

Tadaaaa

We chose a set that included premium and normal beef.

Premium beef

Normal beef - melts in the mouth supers

Wordy toufu looking thing is handmade gluten

Goodness *slurps

This is a picture of the normal beef. IT MELTS IN THE MOUTH! literally! even uploading this picture makes my mouth water thinking of it … We were so pleasantly surprised, squealed with excitement and gave the server a shock hahaha in the process. The normal beef had such high standards.. the premium beef! we can’t wait to try it!

Look at the marbling in the beefie man!!!!!

All good things must always come to an end .. we slowly devoured all our beef .. and with the remaining eggs, the lady poured it into the pan, and cracked a few more as well .. thus looking like :

At the end of the sukiyaki course, egg is being poured into the pan, cooked in the essence of what was left from the whole cours

Then .. all is not wasted as there are beef essence (we also kept some meat to last us till the end when the rice came! Each precious piece! The lady must have thought we were crazy or something! hahahaha ..

remaining sauce is cooked with egg and poured ontop of rice 🙂

mixed together to become :

Yummies

A totally enjoyable and unforgettable meal! I must say this was one of the best highlights of the trip! Nonetheless, look forward to return again in future, and re visit some of the places!

Ningyocho Imahan
JR Hakata
shiteiamyupuraza Hakata
9F, 1-1, Hakataekichuogai,
Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi,
Fukuoka, 812-0012

Fukuoka#7.2

Whenever we reach a food basement, My brother will drag me around (because I can speak basic Japanese) and ask me to ask the sales person if they sold his favourite Warabi mochi. Warabi Mochi, as explained by wiki, is is not a true mochi but a jelly-like confection made from bracken starch and covered or dipped in kinako (sweet toasted soybean flour). It is popular in the summertime, especially in the Kansai region and Okinawa and often sold from trucks, similar to an ice cream truck in Western countries.

Throughout this whole trip, I think he couldn’t be happier when He himself spotted his favourite, while we were waiting for a table for a good dinner at Hakata Station.

KYOUHAYASHIYA(京はやしや)

and of course not forgetting:

Green Tea Warabi mochi

The mochi monster was so happy, he ordered another (well he ate up my mum’s portion) … So i guess that being said, this place rocks socks to him.

KYOUHAYASHIYA京はやしや
JR Hakata
shiteiamyupuraza Hakata
9F, 1-1, Hakataekichuogai,
Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi,
Fukuoka, 812-0012

Fukuoka #7.1

So today would be my last day to be in Fukuoka because I have to return to Singapore for lessons. So I suggested going into tenjin, to check out the underground shopping mall! as well as the other food basements!

We hopped around from Daimaru to Loft, to 3 other food basements and found :

Guess what this is!! - the sticker on the top right hand corner says Happy New Year

Katsu sando whichi!!!!

Ever Since my previous Japan Holiday, and the influence of my brother, Chestnut Cream Cakes have been the icings to our Japan trips! They have the best most natural cream and everything about it is just so super!

Chestnut Cream Cake

Spotted this! The Japanese takes their mentai very seriously! Spotted this at the underground shopping Center

A special shop that takes mentai orders operating like a travel agency

Fukuoka #6.1

We went to have a look at the porcelain museum up at Arita, In Saga Perfecture, and at the same time visit ドイツドレスデンにあるツヴィンガー宮殿 ( Zwinger Palace). This place reminds me of the comic that I read, which also subsequently came up with the manga series called Black Butler (黒執事 Kuroshitsuji) The setting reminded me of how Ciel Phantomhive’s house looked like .. like a real life version of it .. hahaha.. for that moment

Entrance

Fountain

Very scenic and amazing how they managed to preserve this place for such a long time!
We walked around the Ceramics section and food section, bought some snacks to bring back to Singapore .. then, of course it was time for lunch! We drove frantically around, to try to find a place that was still open for lunch, before chancing upon this place called Ifudoudou(威風堂々). I am not trying to be funny here but the place is really called that!

Ifududu

beansprout ramen

black seared ramen

gyoza

fried rice

char siew rice

Over all, this ramen is really not bad! In comparison to the previous one at Oita , This one beats it hands down .. Comparatively to ichi ran, its different in style? Upon conversing with the shop owner, it turns out that this guy represented the whole of kyushu to come to Isetan in Singapore to promote his Ramen! He said he loved Singapore and was very helpful in navigating us to our next destination.

One thing about the countryside people here in Japan that I realised, they are really friendly and helpful in giving directions, to really going all the way to assist you, even if it means they have to act out what they really mean.

威風堂々
有田町南原甲788,
西松浦郡,
佐賀県 844-0027
(I couldnt find an English Address)

Fukuoka #5.6

So we walked towards this tourist attraction, near Canal City Hakata. Also known to be the ‘Newton’ of Hakata, where the whole lane is filled with street side stalls selling variations of yakitoris and other cooked food. Nakasu, (中州)、literally meaning “sandbank,” Nakasu is Kyushu’s largest entertainment district.We walked a while before settling down . It was a good experience but we felt like it was such a tourist trap – we probably were overcharged for food that we could get at cheaper and better prices.

at a glance

street stalls

Mixed Oden

Gyoza

Assorted Yakitori as arranged by the waiter

I must admit, I do love how they incoporate mochi into the oden – although I dont think my family thoroughly enjoyed eating mochi in salty based soups.

Nakasu
6 min from Hakata to Tenjin Station by subway.

Because they were so unsatisfied with this meal, we walked on and we saw MOS burger! so all the hungry ones ordered drinks and a burger to share

Yakiniku rice burger

Needless to say, it tastes so awesome in its own country!!! If only we all settled for Mos Burger instead -_-

we were making our way back and we saw how pretty the lightings were to celebrate such a festive and big event in Japan! Despite all that had happened earlier on in the year, they push forward their celebration perhaps as a form of encouragement and way to make the environment less tense and send ‘genki-ness’ across the state.

nicely lit up

Fukuoka #5.5

On the way to finding the ramen place, we walked through the huge Hakata Station and found people queuing up for croissant!! We decided we should also have a pre-dinner snack

iL FORNO del MIGNON (credits to http://www.fukuokadreaming.com/?p=1335) for this picture

There are 3 main flavours, Chocolate, plain and sweet potato. Sweet potato was a little too much of a double carb combo, we loved the chocolate and the plain ones 🙂

Plain

iL FORNO del MIGNON
博多駅中央街1-1 (JR博多駅構内),
[Fukuoka Hakata Station]
福岡市博多区, 福岡県

Fukuoka #5.4

We finally arrived in the City!! Finally I see civilisation!!! and shopping malls! and buildings!!! I saw a big Tokyu Hands! Can’t wait to get in there!!!
So we checked in, and started exploring the city – in search of the best ramen!
one very kind local brought us to the reccomended one that I found off the internet! IchiRan Ramen!!!

Ichi ran ramen

so i listed out in step form an easy way to go about ordering your Ramen.

Step 1. Tell the person for how many people. Most importantly, ask for an English Order Sheet. Select accordingly to the flavours that you want.

English Order sheet

Step 2. Press Accordingly on the Vending Machine what additional toppings/ how you want your Ramen done. Ask the person to assist you if you cannot understand the Japanese.

Vending Machine

Step 3. Hang your Coat/Jacket behind you with the Hanger Provided. Sit according to the Booth that is designated to you

Hang your coats to avoid getting it dirtied

My Booth

Step 4: Help yourself to hot tea/ drinks

Step 5: Do not be alarmed by the bamboo ‘curtain’ behind. This is where the servers will serve you your ramen and toppings. Read the accompanied instructions on how to peel your egg.

EGG!

Instructions on How to Crack Eggs

Step 6: Wait for the arrival of your Ramen and enjoy it!

Ramen!!

Close up

My mum ordered the spicy version of it

Spicy Version

This place totally rocks socks! One of the best Ramen I ever had on the trip!!! The ramen is to be accompanied with their vinegar – which I thought was weird at first, but upon trying it, just enhanced the taste of the Ramen! The egg was enjoyable, and so was the char siew – melt in the mouth! Totally enjoyed this dinning experience! I think its a pretty considerate concept in terms of, although its pretty sad case to be eating behind a booth, but probably for clients that come alone, they won’t feel so awkward.

Ichiran (蘭),
5-3-2 Nakasugawa,
Hakata-ku (2 min from subway Nakasu-kawabata exit 2; five other outlets around town),
☎ +81 92 262-0433, [18].

Fukuoka #5.3

So on the way to the city, we broke our journey up, so we could all take turns to drive as well .. and we made a pit stop at yama da（山田）

yama da Stop

So of course, pit stop = more eating!

Tako Pachi - not bad

Milk Ice cream = YUMMERS

This ice-cream is so creamily awesome!

Tori karage (Fried Chicken)

Fishcake with Cheese ❤

Charcoal cooked chicken - bleagh

Now that All the eating is done , we embarked on our journey to the city! In search for a good ramen!! 🙂

Fukuoka #5.2

So, because our friend’s car broke down halfway while trying to meet us to head towards the city together, we had some time to spare to walk and explore around this Onsen city. As the shops were slowly opening, We chanced upon this famous Croquette shop that prided itself in delivering the best croquette around. Celebrities also patronize them!

Famous Croquette Shop

so we went ahead and ordered 2 to try. I ordered a lobster, Kani(crab) croquette and curry Beef one for my sister to try.

Lobster croquette

Kani cream

Beef Croquette

It lived up to its name! and being one of the first customer of the day, probably added to the punch. I love croquette and I think the croquettes were fried very well – it doesnt have that left over oil kind of taste and its very crispy.

We walked around and sighted a few more interesting sights and quaint shops with their own characteristics

Love the way this shop is decorated

This shop sold mainly self hand painted items. I bought a couple of souvenirs from here for my friends, a super cute handmade paperweight in the shape of a Japanese doll! its was just awesome browsing through the things that were crafted there!

Cuteness

Saw this out side this shop that, the whole first level sold all types of glass ornaments, from crystal bracelets to display ornaments. The second level, sold music boxes! Different types of music boxes galore!!!